1 September 2012
I should just explain about the "Birdy" part. Angelo Uccello is my composers name. Angelo after my Grandfather; Uccello because it's Italian for "Bird". My birth name was Andrew Bird, hence the nickname.
Next I'd like to tell you about a passion of mine other than musical composition: travel. I do not own a passport, my parents are hugely religious about staying in Britain, and I'm only 18, but I've still managed to go to France & Canada on a School trip. I love that feeling of being abroad. To many, being abroad is just like being at home. If you are - like myself - hugely passionate about that sort of thing, then it couldn't be more different. I remember the very first time my foot touched down on French soil. It was the first time I'd been out of Britain, and the feeling of completeness is something that has never left me. When I close my eyes, I re-live that special yet simple moment.
As my parents are as enthusiastic about going abroad as a Turkey is about meeting Bernard Matthews, I'm fighting and trying to secure an international business that'll fund trips around the world to inspire me in the art of composition. Next year'll be my first proper trip abroad alone (or perhaps I may take a friend). On the 22nd of November 2013 I'm off to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The excitement is filling me up just imagining what my senses will be going through when being on a continent that I've always felt is at the very edge of the earth. That's what makes travel so unique from my point of view. When you see it as such an exciting thing, just standing still in a relatively unattractive area is special.
Of course, next years trip is more of a property hunt than just a holiday. I've always wanted to go to Palm Beach - 26 Miles North of Sydney. It's where they film Home & Away (so really and truly, I should call it Summer Bay). For me and my personality, it is without fault. Not spoilt, yet smack-in-the-gob beautiful.
With the desire to travel comes with it a little tease from myself to others regarding what this post is all about: place names. The conversations I have with friends about places that are titled the same are quite funny occasionally. Last year I went to Hollywood. No joke. I really did go to Hollywood. It really is a nice neighbourhood, of such a well known city. Visiting friends, I was. Was so glad to see them around Christmas time; was a real treat to travel over there...of course, I am talking about the Hollywood neighbourhood in Birmingham, just by the Maypole. What did you think I meant?!
Just the other week I went to Melbourne. Yes, I really did go to Melbourne. Such a beautiful place. Talking to a friend while I was there; he was totally in awe of my travels. "What's it like?" he asked. "Stunning" I replied. Sensing much jealousy in his texts I chuckled to myself. He then asked how long I was staying. "Only a flying visit to just pick something up" I replied. "WHAT?!" he exclaimed. "You fly all that way to just pick something up?!" he then went onto ask. "Fly?!" I said, "we drove". "DROVE?!" he said, "how's that even possible?!" "Easy - you get in a car, start the engine, put it into gear and put your fucking foot down (!)" I sarcastically replied. "No!" he said, "I mean why would you drive to Australia?" "Australia?!" I not so shockingly exclaimed, "I'm not in Australia. I bloody wish I was, but I'm not." Confused by this, he then asked "but you're in Melbourne?" "Yes", I replied, "Melbourne - a small village in Derbyshire. Not Melbourne - a large city in Victoria."
A few years ago, I went to California. Yes, that's right, California. All the way there Phantom Planet was playing the appropriate song. Of course, it was only a 172 mile trip compared to the 5,000 miles that is expected from Britain to California. I was on my way to the Norfolk hamlet of California. Jolly nice it was too!
Until I take pictures of myself standing next to the Golden Gate, the Sydney Opera House, or the Grand Canyon, I will continue to find amusement in British places that share names with much more famous locations.
Birdy Goes To Hollywood • Opuss № I